Temples of Tamil Nadu and Pondicherry #107: Vaidyanathaswamy Temple, Vaitheeswaran Koil

வைத்தியநாதசுவாமி திருக்கோயில், வைத்தீசுவரன்கோயில்

Vaitheeswaran Koil

Vaitheeswaran Koil

Vaitheeswaran Koil

Vaitheeswaran Koil

Vaitheeswaran Koil

Vaitheeswaran Koil

Vaitheeswaran Koil

Vaitheeswaran Koil

Vaitheeswaran Koil

Vaitheeswaran Koil

Vaitheeswaran Koil

Vaitheeswaran Koil

Vaitheeswaran Koil

Vaitheeswaran Koil

This very popular Sivan temple in the Kaveri Delta is a Navagraha Sthalam associated with the planetary deity Lord Angakaran or Mars. It is a Paadal Petra Sthalam. It is believed that Lord Sivan here cures diseases of all kinds. That is why he is a Vaithyan or physician. The temple is also associated with the ancient practice of palm leaf astrology known as Naadi Jothidam. It is a fairly large and busy temple.

Legends say that Lord Rama performed the last rites of Jatayu, the legendary vulture king of the Ramayana, here at this temple. The historic name for the village is Pullirukkuvelur (புள்ளிருக்குவேளூர்). "Pul" is a bird and stands for Jatayu. "Irukku" denotes the Rig Veda. "Vel" is for Lord Murugan who has a shrine here which is much revered. Lord Murugan received his Vel or spear here. Lord Mars who suffered from leprosy was cured here. Many legends are associated with this temple.

Nadi Jothidam is a branch Indian astrology that believes that the destiny of every human being is predetermined and is found on ancient palm leaf manuscripts written in ancient times. It is believed that that the author was the sage Agasthyar. The practice is closely linked to this temple. They are written in the old Tamil script of Vateluthu. They were in the custody of the Thanjavur Maratha kings and were stored in the Saraswati Mahal Library in Thanjavur. The British confiscated them believing that they contained secrets of herbal treatments. Then they carelessly scattered them and most of them have ended up with families of astrologers in the Vaitheeswarankoil area. Some were lost. There are numerous astrologers here who will obtain a thumb print from the customer, their date of birth and a few basic questions and then find the palm leaf manuscript that pertains to them. They are believed to contain the past and the future of that individual. Often the details are very convincing. The practice also prescribes remedial rituals that negate any unfavourable predictions.

At around 10 acres, this a moderately large temple. It has a 5 tier rajagopuram. It has 5 gopurams in a straight line. There are 3 spacious precincts or prakarams. The presiding deity in the sanctum sanctorum is Lord Sivan as a Suyambu Moorthy. The Lord faces west which is not common. The Shrine for Goddess Thaiyalnayaki faces south. It is located in the 2nd precinct

There is also a special shrine for Lord Subramanyar in the first precinct which is much revered. The shrine for Lord Angakaran or Mars is in the 3rd precinct near the eastern gateway. The main theertham is a large tank called the Siddhamirtha Theertham. Taking a dip in it is believed to cure many diseases. There is another theertham called the Jatayu Kundam where Lord Rama is believed to have performed the crematory rites for Jatayu. The Sthala Virutcham is the Vembu or Margosa tree which has a number of medicinal properties. The temple is administered by the Saivite mutt or monastic institution, the Dharmapuram Adheenam under supervision of the HR and CE. The main festivals are the 10 day festival in January/ February and the 28 day Brahmotsavam in the Tamil month of Panguni (March/ April).

The temple has been in existence from before the time of the Thevarams which were composed in the early 7th century. Chola, Pandya, Nayakkan and Thanjavur Maratha kings among others have patronised this temple. Many of the older inscriptions have been irretrievably lost due to thoughtless renovations over the years. The oldest inscription found so far is from the period of Kulothunga Cholan I (1070-1120). There are also inscriptions from the reigns of his son and successor Vikrama Cholan (1118-1135). Other inscriptions are from Veerapandian of the Later Pandyan dynasty, Achuthappa Nayakkar (1560-1614) of the Thanjavur Nayakkar and Thanjavur Maratha king Thuljaji (1763-1773). There are also inscriptions from many local chieftains and benefactors.

This is the 70th Paadal Petra Sthalam and the 16th on the north bank of the Kaveri. Thirunavukkarasar and Thirugnasampanthar composed the pathigams for this temple.

கள்ளார்ந்த பூங்கொன்றை

மதமத்தங் கதிர்மதியம்

உள்ளார்ந்த சடைமுடி எம்

பெருமானார் உறையுமிடம்

தள்ளாய சம்பாதி

சடாயென்பார் தாமிருவர்

புள்ளானார்க் கரையனிடம்

புள்ளிருக்கு வேளூரே.

(Our Lord lives here among the nectar laden Konrai and mind-altering datura flowers with the bright moon stuck in his matted locks. The weakened, divine vultures, Sampati and his brother Jatayu [from the Ramayana} worshipped Him, the king of all birds here at Pullirukkuvelur)

Thevaram 2.43 Thirugnanasampanthar

The temple is located 150 km or 2.5 hours east of Tiruchirapalli and 100 km or 2 hours south of Pondicherry. It is 50 km or 1.5 hours northeast of Kumbakonam and 36 km or 1 hour north of Tharangambadi. We visited in July 2010 and June 2025. We were based in Kumbakonam.

Sources:

Dinamalar Temples - Vaidyanathar Temple

N. Chockalingam 1971, Census of India 1961. Volume IX. Part XI -D. Temples of Tamil Nadu Page 25-28

Shaivam.org - Thevaram

Courtesy Google Maps